Moorabool Community Broadband and Telecommunications Strategyand other telecommunications and ICT collaborations across the Grampians region

Dr Helen Thompson CeCCMs Jennifer Corbett CeCCMr George Fong Lateral Plains

Presentation structure• Background

• Study context• Location• Research methods and mapping

• Results• Discussion• Economic and community strategies

• Outcomes to date and conclusions

Background

Study context• Connectivity trends are changing rapidly

• 90 trillion emails were sent in 2009• More than five billion mobile phone users• Several hundred million Google searches each day• By 2030 personal computers will have the

processing power of the human brain • The pervasive influence of ICT is accelerating as

it becomes embedded in work, leisure and the provision of goods and services

Method for exploring ICT usage and impacts

• Establish project website

Method for exploring ICT usage and impacts

• Actively engage community members through wide ranging consultation

• Desktop research• Consultation with key stakeholders• Roundtable discussions with business and

community groups• Telephone and face-to-face interviews • Online survey

Mapping ICT usage and impacts

• Telecommunications and broadband services• ICT adoption and usage• Service satisfaction levels• At home, at work and while commuting

Results

Critical aspects implicit in planning for the future

• Research generated evidence base to support• Understanding the desires and intentions of

the community and stakeholders• Understanding the social, business and ICT

context• Setting the goals• Determining what needed to be done to

achieve these goals.

Economic and community strategies

• By 2015 the Moorabool Shire will achieve metropolitan equivalent ICT and be renowned for the effective use of new technologies.

An ICT leadership role for Council• Ensure ICT is central to Council developments• Leverage ICT to generate process efficiencies• Involve council staff in identifying and prioritising

areas for ICT integration• Create more effective web-based systems• Educate community so they can effectively use

new services• Attracting external funds to support prioritised

ICT actions

Advocacy and profiling

• Establish representative body to implement of local ICT priorities

• Achieve an early rollout of the NBN in the Central Highlands Region

• Advocate for enhanced mobile and broadband services

• Achieve mobile and wireless broadband on all regional fast rail services

Infrastructure and planning

• Use existing and new communication channels to increase ICT knowledge

• Implement conduit strategy for all new residential and industrial developments

• Be proactive in identifying retro-fitting opportunities

• Develop an ICT investment incentive package • Explore feasibility of establishing an ICT Hub

External strategies• Educate local businesses and the broader

community about the benefits of positioning the Moorabool region as NBN ready

• Actively participate in initiatives which link to local ICT priorities • Municipal Association of Victoria• Multimedia Victoria (e.g. cIFF, Reinnovate)• DBCDE (e.g. Digital Regions)• NBN

Outcomes to date

NBN Stage 2 release site

Feedback from Senator Conroy• Shire submission made a real difference• Leaders congratulated for their foresight• Celebrate starting first• Continue to work collaboratively – locally and

regionally• NBN build conversations have commenced • In less than 18 months first 3,000 premises• Fantastic opportunity to maximise benefits from

the build and use of the network

Other telecommunications and ICT collaborations across the Grampians region

Coordinated regional planning• Grampians Region Strategic Plan

• Grampians Regional Technology Audit and Study

• Sub regional plans• Central Highlands ICT Study• Wimmera Southern Mallee ICT Study

• Local government area plans• Moorabool Shire• City of Ballarat

Opportunities for other RDAs

Future sustainability

• ICT is a fundamental driver for long term change• What approaches to ICT planning can be

shared?• How can communities identify ICT priorities

based on their unique regional needs, attributes and assets?

• What partnerships can be forged to leverage ICT regionally/locally?

Share knowledge about the NBN

Build a regional knowledge base

Develop evidence base for local advocacyNorthern Grampians Shire responses

Develop evidence base for local advocacyNorthern Grampians Shire (cluster by city): Stawell

Develop evidence base for local advocacyInternet cost

Develop evidence base for local advocacyInternet speed rating (5 = excellent 1 = poor)

Develop evidence base for local advocacyMobile quality (5 = excellent 1 = poor)

Increasing ease of use

Better supporting mobility

Enhancing safety and security

Reducing the cost of access

Better and faster broadband

The most important or pressing issues about the internet (n=538)

No answer

Strongly disagree (1)

Disagree (2)

Neither agree nor disagree (3)

Agree (4)

Strongly agree (5)

Central Highlands ICT study

Questions

for more information see www.cecc.com.au